Committee reviews marine economy

The National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee yesterday reviewed the development of the marine economy along with national defence and security in 2011-16.

National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan presided over the last meeting of the NA Standing Committee 14th session held yesterday in Hanoi (Photo: VNA/VNS)

The committee lauded Government and local authorities’ efforts in supporting fisherman and aquaculture businesses in achieving both goals.

According to the NA’s monitoring mission, in 2011-2016, marine fishery output growth averaged 5 percent year-on-year. By the end of 2016, the total number of fishing vessels nationwide hit 110,000. To date, Vietnam has rebuilt and expanded 83 fish ports, and is building 65 storm shelters.

In the three years since a Government decree on fishery development was implemented, the number of near-shore fishing vessels has fallen by 13.2 percent while their offshore counterparts witnessed a jump of 20.1 percent.

The monitoring mission also pointed shortcomings in efforts to combine economic development with national defence. A lack of equipment, slow progress in upgrading infrastructure like ports or piers, small-scaled production that lacks a master plan at risk of diseases and environmental pollution, among others, were some of the flaws mentioned.

Stressing that fishermen play a critical role in developing the marine economy and protecting the country’s sea and island sovereignty, Chairman of the NA Committee for External Relations, Nguyen Van Giau, called on the Government to come up with more support mechanisms for these people. Giau also said attention must be paid to “any action that causes damage to the interests of the State and fishermen.”

NA Chairwoman Tran Thi Kim Ngan urged more monitoring of overexploitation of marine resources and studying a periodic fishing ban. She also wanted the monitoring mission to look into the issue of Vietnamese fishermen intruding into neighbouring countries’ seas, as well as foreign vessels infringing Vietnamese waters.

The NA Chairwoman commented that the prevailing mentality is prioritising economic benefits while disregarding national security concerns, or vice versa, showing that the two aspects have not been harmonised.

The NA Standing Committee agreed to continue strengthening the implementation of laws and policies on aquaculture production, harvesting, and processing in tandem with ensuring national defence and security.